Game apparatus.



L. 0. SUTTON.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 16,1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED M1016, 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DBG.16,191`0.

994,963, Patented June 13, 1911.

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,Le/7V, dllozuslJ APPLICATION FILED DEO.16, 1910.

l L. 0. SUTTON. GAME APPARATS.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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L. 0. SUTTON.

GAMB APARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 16,1910.

9945963. j Patented June 13,5'1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET E.

lg/wi S14/UWC@ y "UNITED STAWENT OFFICE Louis o. SUTTON, or4 WILMINGTON,DELAWARE.

i lGrAIldCE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1911,

`Application led December 16, 1910. Serial No. 597,601. y

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it .known that I, LOUIS O. SUTTON, a citizenof the United States,residing at lVill mington` in the county of Newcastle and 5 State ofDelaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gamepparatus, of which the following is a specili-` cation.

Hy invention relates to improvements in gaine apparatus, an object ofthe invention being to provide an improved game `table 'designedespecially for playing the game of baseball, and which willautomatically record on the board by means of electric lights, the

- representation of a. base ruimer moving along the base lines. and atthe several bases.

A further object is to provide an improved table indicating thereon therepresentation of a baseball field with` the base lines transparent,andv electric lights un'der the base lines and at the'bases, said lightsincluded in circuits which are closed by the movement of-cue balls inaccordance with the movement'of the latter. `A further objectis toprovide a game board or table having av cushion against which cue ballsare adapted to be driven by means of the ordina-ry cue, and provideelectric contacts in circuit with electric lights, said contacts movedtogether by the ball as it is deflected from the cushion, so as to causethe illumination of certain of said lights.I A further object is toprovide a game apparatus of this character in which openings areprovided in the board or` table through which the cue balls pass whensaid balls fail ^to engage the contacts above vreferred to, and in`which position said balls record outs in .10 the game of baseball, andprovide below said openings, alleys joining a common alley for the careof the balls passing throughsaid openings, said openings being locatedon the field at the positions ordinarily occupied by the players.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement of hallways,electric contacts, metal balls, gates, and-electro-magnets controllingthe passage of the balls down the hallways in accordance with thecontact closed b v the cue ball, giving to the representation of thediamond or base paths the ap pearance of a runner moving along the-baseVlines from base tovbase, such impression being causedv by the regularand successive Lview .of the ballways.

lighting and extinguishing of the lights in the path. i

A further object is to provide improved means for releasing intotheseveral hallways a single ball at a time, and permitting said ball tomove in the hallway a distance equal to the distance around the basepaths in accordance with lthe particular contact closed b v thecue ball,and permitting balls which illuminate thelights at any of the bases tomove in a proportionate distance on the base lines, such as a playerwould ordinarily 'move in an ordinary game of baseball in response tothekind of hit. recorded by the closed contact.

A further object is to provide improved ballways for metal balls, saidmetal balls adapted to close electric circuits as they move along thehallways, causing the successive illumination of lights in the baselines, and provide limproved means for returning the balls to theirhopper or supply chamber.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement of electriccircuits whereby all of the several operations are automaticallyperformed to release the several circuit closing balls, and controltheir movement down their several hallways in accordance with thecontacts closed by the cue balls, and automatically closethe electriccircuitsv of the lights in the base path and at the bases.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction andl combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be,Y more fully hereinafter described and pointed out inthe claims. f

In the accompanyingv drawings: Figure l, is a plan view illustrating myimprovements. Fig. Q, is a view in longitudinal section. F1g. 3, is aview in cross section. Fig. 4, 1s an inverted longitudinal section onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a sectional p lan Fig. 6, is a viewpartly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation on the line 6-6of Fig. 1. Fig. 7, is a sectional plan view on the line 7-7 of Fig.6.,Fig. 8, is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of aportion of thehallways showing one of the electrogmagnetic gates.\/ Fig. 9, is a viewin cross section through Fig. 8. Fig. 10, 1s a long1tud1- nalsectionillustrating onan enlarged scale one of the contacts closed bythe cueballs.

Fig.y 11, is an enlarged sectional view at right angles to Fig. 10. Fig.12, is a diagram showing the arrangement of electric circuits betweenthe several contacts and the electro-magnetic gates. Fig. 13, is adiagram showing the electric circuits between the several contacts inthe hallways and the lights in the hase lines. and Fig. 14, showsanfordinary cu'e and cue balls with which the game is played.

The game apparatus ,comprises a boX-like body havinga bottom 1, sides 2,2, ends 3,

anda top t, the top 4 constituting the lfield which islocated a distancebelow the upper edges ot the sides and ends to connethe cue balls on theiield during the playing of the game. rlhe body is preferably supportedon suitable legs 5, and is of approximately the same size as an ordinarybilliard or pool table. On the top or table 1. transparent strips 6 areinserted representing the base lines of ordinary baseball diamonds,which connect transparent squares 7 which l shall term bases.Beneatheach base, and beneath ,the transparent strips 6, are electriclights 8, and for convenience of description l shall hereinafter referto these lights as base line lights and base lights. ,n At one end ofthe table is a delecting cushion 9 which is oit general heart shape cutunder as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, and adapted to be struck byan ordinary cueball 10a when operated by an ordinary cue 11a illustratedin Fig. 14.

Backof the representation yof the diamond, and at points which wouldordinarily be occupied by players on an'ordinary baseball iield,openings 10 are provided in the top 4 blocks 11 being located back ofsaid openingsto serve as abutments, and ther walls of said openingsremoved from said blocks, being beveled or inclined to more effectuallydirect the cue balls into the openings. Below the several openings 10,chair,

nels or passages 12 are provided which inoline downwardly to a commonpassage 13,

and the latter discharges through an opening 14, so that any cue ballwhich may fall through any of said openings will pass into a receptacle15 provided for their reception outside of the table.

Below the top or iield 4L, but located within the box-like body, is aninclined table 16, which comprises a hopper 17 at its upper end withwhich a series of longitudinal hallways communicate. rFliese hallways Ihave given diiierent reference characters for convenience ofdescription. rllhere are four main hallways which l number 18, 19, 20,and 21, respectively which extend from the hopper or chamber 17throughout the length `of the table and discharge into a transversechute 22. ln addition to these hallways, a fifth hallway 23 isproeef/1,963

chute 22, and from the latter directed through a passage 26 to aconveyer 27. This conveyer 27 is constructed to elevate the metal hallshack into the chamber or hopper 17, and may be operated by any suitablemechanism (not shown).

The table 16 is composed of non-conducting material, and its hallwaysare of general V-shape containing metal contact plates 28 in itsopposite faces spaced apart, insulated from each other, and yetconnected in electric circuits with the several lights 8 under the baseline 6 and bases 7. A diagram or these elect-ric circuits is shown inFig. 13 illustrating the several independent circuit wires 29 connectingthe lights 8 with the contact plates 28, and all of said circuits areelectrically connected with a supply main 30, and in this diagram thebases corresponding to the bases of the iield are indicated in line, andnot as they actually appear on the field. t

At the entrance or upper end of the-ballways 18, 19, 20, and 21, wherethey communicate with the hopper or chamber 17, elcctro-magnetic gates31, 32, 33, and 34C respectively are located. lin the hallway 18 at apoint distant from the hopper onefourth of. the ylength of the hallway,and at the point o'f communication between the ballway 18, and thebranch Aballway 2t, two of such electro-magnetic gates 35 and 36 areprovided, the gate 35 controlling the direct passage down the hallway18, and the gate 3G controlling thepassage down the branch ballway 24.At a point half way down ballway 19, is an electromagnetic gate 37, andat points three-quarters of the way down hallways 18 and 20 areelectro-magnetic gates 38 and 39 respectively. Fach ot theseelectro-magnetic gates as ll term them comprises a bracket 40 of generalbowed form supporting an electro-magnet, the core of which extendsthrough the bracket 40, into the path of a metal ball 25 far enough tohold the ball against movement down the hallway, hence these gates areadapted to hold the balls in positions on the contact plates 28 in theseveral hallways to close the electric circuits which illuminate thelights below the bases. For example, gates 35 and 36 hold a ball inposition to close thc contact and light the firstbase light. `Gate 37holds a ball in position to light the second base light, and gates 38and Y39 hold a ball in position to light the third base light. i??

These several electro-magnetic gates or electro-magnets, whichconstitute the operative element of the gates,- are controlled byelectric-circuits indicated diagrammatically in F ig. 12, and theseelectric circuits are adapted to he closed by the weight of the cue ballto raise the armature or gate as will hereinafter appear.

In the sides 2 and ends 3 of the box-like body which project above thetop or eld`4, recesses or grooves/41 are provided for the reception andpassage of the cue balls, and said passages incline to a pocket 42 atone end of the table, so that these balls which do not enter theopenings,`10 are returned for further use. At the entrance to thesegrooves'41, vertically movable platforms are located, and are givenseparate reference characters for clearness of description.

The sides 2 at points in line with the first and third hase lines of thediamond illustrated by the transparent sections 6, are curved orprojected inwardly as shown at 42a, so that balls which do not comeinside of the lines 6, in other words, foul balls are deflected backinto the field. Between these inwardly projecting portions 42a, and thevplaying end of the eld, and aty both sides of the table, are twoplatforms and at the player end of the table are three of theseplatforms making seven in all. The yfirst two platforms or thoseadjacent the representation of a diamond, lt give reference characters43 and 44 respectively, and these platforms are what l term t one hasehit platforms. rll`he adjacent platforms 45 and l 46 which extend fromthe ends of platforms ends upon pins 50, around which coiled springs 51'are provided normally spacing contacts 52 and 53 apart. As the cue ballin order to pass into the grooves 41 must pass over one of theseplatforms, the weight ,of the ball will be sufficient to move thecontacts 52 and 53 together to close the electric .circuitin which saidcontacts are included to operate the several electromagnetic gates aswill he explained.

ln playing the game, the cue isutilized to direct the ball against thecushion 9, and owing to the peculiar shape of the latter considerablescience is necessary to direct the ball. The object, of course, is todirect the hall over one of the base hit platforms and prevent it frompassing into any of the openings 10. lrVhen,the ball passes into theopenings 10, the scorer records one out. When it passes over a base hitplatform, a. metal ball 25 will be released so that the lights 8 will beilluminated in succession and give the /appearance of a hase runnermoving along the base lines from one base to another, and-this operationof the metal balls is controlled by the electro-magnetic gates throughthemedium of electric circuits shown in Fig. 12, and which will now bedescribed.

ln the following description, it is to he understood that referring tothe several platforms, that -this reference includes the electriccontacts which form a part of said plat forms.

As the magnets 37, 38, and 39 always operate simultaneously with any oneof the. magnets 31, 32, 33, and 34, and with either magnet 35 or 36, thesaid magnets 37, 38 and 39 are included in a multiple arc circuit 54,which includes magnet 35, and magnet 31, and by means of branch wires 55includes magnet 36. rl`he wires of circuit 54 are connected by wires 56and 57 with the first base hit platforms 4-1 and 43 respectively, andthese circuits are connected by branch wires 58 with the line wires 59.Included in the circuits of the wires 56, 57, and 54, is the magnet. 31which controls the release) f of metal balls from hopper 17 into theballway 1S. rThe two base hitplatforms 45 and 46 are connected by wires60 with wires 61, which connect with the branch wires 55, andinclude inthe electric circuit the electromagnet 32 which controls the passage ofballs from the hopper 17 into the hallway 19. The three basehitplatforms 47 and 48 are connected by wires 62 with the branch wires 55,and include in the electric v'circuit the magnet 33 which controls thepassage of halls from the hopper 17 to the hallway 26. The home runplatform 49 is connected by wires 63 with the branch wires 55, and

includes in the elect-ric circuit, the magnet 34 which latter controlsthe passage of balls from" hopper 17 into hallway 21. Each of thesecircuit wires 60, 62, and 63, like wires 56, are connected by branchwires 58 with the line wires 59, and all of these several circuitsarenormally opened and held open by means of the springsl of the severalplatforms. Y

In playing the game, a cue ball is placed upon the ield, and is Astruckhy the cue to strike the ball against the cushion 9. rfhe object, ofcourse, is to English the hall in a desi-red way so as to make itescapethe several openings 10, and pass over at least one of the platforms,preferably those highest in value, and due to the location of theopenings 10, the difficulty of directing the ball over the higher valueplatforms is proportionately increased, for example, it being easier todirect the ball over the one base hit platforms 43 and 44,' and thenover the two base hit platforms 45 and 46, etc.

We will assume that when the cue ball is struck, it ,is deflectedbadkvvard into fair ground escaping the projections 42a, and passes overthepla'tform 43, making a base hit to right iield. As soon as the balldcpresses the platform 43, the electric circuit Will be closed so as tomomentarily energize magnets 31, 35, 37, 38, and 39, and a metal ball 25Will therefore be released doWh ball- Way 18, but the core of magnet 35Will have descended before the ball reaches that point, so that the ballWill be stopped by the core of the magnet, or by the electromagneticgate as this is referred to. As the metal ball passes down the ballvvay18, it Will successively close the electric circuits which include thecontact plates 28, and cause the lights 8 under the transparent strip 6be` tween the home plate and the first base to be successively lighted,and as long as the ball is held by the magnet 35, it Will maintainilluminated the light under the rst bascplate 7. We will suppose thatthe nextcue ball Which is shot against cushion 9' is deiiected, so thatit passes into one of the openings 10. rllhis Will record one out andthe base runner on first base Will not advance. We Will assume that thenext cue ball Which strikes cushion 9, passes over first base hitplatform 44, Which `Will be a single to left field'. When this happens,platform 44 will close the electric circuit between the Wires '56,causing magnets 31 and 35 to be energized as Well as the magnets 37, 38,and 39 which are always energized at every operation of any platform.rllhe metal ball 25, which was held by magnet 35, Will roll down hallway18 as far as the magnet 38, and the lights under the base paths betweenthe lirst and second, and second and third will be successively lighted,which Will give the appearance ofabase runner running from rst `to thirdbase, and thethird base light Will remain lighted. At the same time asecond ball Will enter hallway 18, and roll down to the magnet 35,causing the lights under the base path between home plate and first baseto be successively illuminated, giving the appearance of a runner goingdown toV first base,V and the lirstbase'light will remain jlighted.lllhe field Will then show a man on rst and a man on third base. We willnow suppose that the next cue ball Which strikes Acushion 9 passes overthe'home run platform 49. When this occurs, the circuit Will be closedthrough the wires 63 energizing magnet 34, and magnets 36, 37, 38, and39. llt Will therefore be noted that the magnet 35 vis not energized,but magnet 36 is, which permits the ball to roll through the hallway 23throughout the length of the jtable, and

the ball against magnet 38 to'roll down ball- Way 18 to the end of thetable. At the same time, the ball Whichis permitted to enter ballway 21by reason of energizing magnet eef-rees 34 Will pass throughout theentire length of the hallway 21.` This movement of the balls Will causethe successive illumination of the lights below the base paths, sothat'it'will give the general impression of the man on third baserunning home, the man on first base running around home, and the ba terencircling the-base paths. The scorer will, of course, record threeruns. if the next tivo cue balls enter holes 10, the inning will be overfor that player. The next player then uses these cue balls Which aredelivered into the receptacle 15. Cue balls Which do not pass throughthe openings 10 are guided into the pocket 42, and are used over andover again.- The several metal balls as they pass throughout the table,enter the chute 22 and are directed back by the passage 26 to the headof the table into the path of movement of a conveyer 27, which latter isoperated by any suitable mechanism (not shown) to convey the metal ballsupward into the chamber or hopper 17 for reuse.

ln playing this game, the electro-magnetic gates are so arranged thatthe normal play on a baseball diamond as the result of base hits isrecorded electrically on the representation of the baseball diamond. lnother Words, if a man is on first base, a single Will place him onthird. 1f he is on first base, a double, triple, or home run Will carryhim all the way home aheadbf the batter who will stop on the base pathsin accordance With the hit he makes. -lf a runner is on second base, asingle Will bring', him home. rllhe auxiliary ballvvay 23 with itselectromagnetic gate 36 is provided so that a base runner on first baseWill be driven all the Way home ahead of a batter making more than asingle for in such event as above eX- plained in connection With theseveral circuits, magnet 36 Will be energized to allow a ball to passdoWn the ballWay 23, While the magnet `35 prevents the ball from.passing down hallwayn 18. .Any ball T.vhich strikesr the side linesbefore passing over first or third base is a foul. lf such balleventually falls into the one of the pockets 10, it is a -foul out. lfthe ball stops on the field, it

would simply record a strike, and three ofy such strikes would be out. Agreat many combinations of plays may be made on "the board, and ruleslaid down for certain positions in Which the ball stops. 1f such`positions entitle the player to hits according to the rules, theseveral platforms may be manually depressed so as to properly registeron the board, but the invention is of course not limited to theparticular rules employed.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangementof parts described Without departing from my invention, and hence l dovnot limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myselfI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A game apparatus, comprising a field.

` transparent base lines on said field, lights vbelow said base linesnoinially extinguished,

and cue ball coiitiolled means for successively illuminating the lightsbelow the base lines and at the bases, substantially as described.

2. game apparatus, comprising a field, transparent base lines on saidfield', lights below said base lines normally extinguished, a cushion onsaid field, a ball adapted to euga'ge said cushion, and means operatedby said ball successively illuminating the lights below the base linesand the bases, substantially as described.

3. ln a game apparat-us, the combination with a field, transparent baselines on said field', transparent basesk at the ends of said base lines,and electric lights below said base lines and bases, of a cushion at oneend of said field baclrof one of said bases, a cue ball adapted to bemoved against said cushion, openings in said field for the reception ofsaid ball, and electric contacts ou said field adapted to be operated bysaid ball and controlling the Aillumination of said lights,substantially as described.

4. ln a game apparatus, the combination with a field, transparent baselines on said field, transparent bases at the ends of. said base lines,and electric lights below said'base lilies and bases, of a cushion atone end of said field back of one ofsaid bases, a cue ball adapted to bemoved against said cushion, openings in said field for the reception ofsaid ball, means below said field controlling thev illumination of saidlights, and means on saidfield operated by said ball for controlling theoperation of the first-mentioned means, substantially as describedu 5.ln a gaine apparatus,'-the combination with a field, transparent baselines on said field, transparent bases at the ends of said base lines,and electric lights below said base lines and bases, of a. cushion atone end of said field back of one of said bases, a cue ball adapted'tobe moved against said cushindicating base lilies, transparent pieces ation, openings insaid field for the reception of said Lball, means below1said field controlling the illumination of said lights, and electiiccircuit-closing means on said field operated by said ball forcontrolling the operation of the first-mentioned means, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a game apparat-us, the combination with a field, transparentstrips on said field the juncture of said base lines indicating bases,electric .lights below said base lines ected back over said field, saidfield havingv openings therein to receive said ball, passages below saidopenings, a common passage into which all of said first-nientioiiedpassages empty, aiid electric means operated by said ball forilluminating certain of said lights under said base lines and bases,substantially as described. p

7. ln a game apparatus, the combination with a field, transparent stripson said field indicating base lines., transparent pieces at the-junctureof said base lines indicating bases, electric lights below said baselines and bases, andI an elastic cushion on said field back of one ofsaid bases, of'a ciie ball adapted to engage' saidcushion and bedefiected back over said field, said field having openings therein toreceive said ball, passages below said openings, a common passage intowhich all of said first-nientioned passages empty, electric means belowsaid field controlling tlie illumination of said lights, and electricmeans on said field operated by said ball for controlling the operationof the first- -mentioned means, substantially as described.

8.` in' a game apparatus, the combination with afield, transparentstrips on said field indicating base lines, transparent pieces at thejuncture of said base lines indicating bases, electric lights below saidbase lines and bases, and an elastic cushion on said field back of oneof said bases, of a cue ball adapted to engage said cushion and bedeflected back over said field, said field having openings therein toreceive said ball, passages below said openings, a common passage intowhich all of said first-mentioned passages empty, electric contact-s,vertically movable platforms on said field depressed by saidba'll toclose said electric contacts,

and electric circuits in which said contacts are includedAcontrolling'the operation of said first-mentioned means, substantiallyas described.

. 9. A game apparatus, comprising the representation of a baseballdiamond, lights along the base lines and at the bases, ineansl .of saidmetal ballsinto and through said hallways, cue .ball operated electriccontacts controlling the operation of said gates,

and metal contacts in said hallways in electric circuit with saidlights, substantially as described.

10. A game apparatus, comprising a field,

"transparent base lines" on saidfield, lights below said base linesnormally extinguished,

means for successively illuminating the lights below the base lines andat the bases, said light controlling means comprising an inclined tablehaving a plurality of ballways, a chamber at the upper end of saicltable, metal balls in said chamber, electromagnetic gates controllingthe passage of said metal balls into and through said ballway's, eueball operated electric contacts con- 10 trolling the operation of said`gates, and] saliese `metal contacts in said hallways in electric name tothis specication in the pres-ence of 15 two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS 0. SUTTON. Witnessess GEORGE DoRsnY, Jin?, TLEMAS SMITH.

